Check your Trailer Springs

[Jack Bristow]

Recently I was under our 94 H-26 repairing damage to the centerboard from last years misadventures. The boat was on the trailer and I happened to notice the springs on the rear axle looked strange. Upon further investigation 3 of the four leaves on one side and 2 of the four on the other side were broken and half missing. We were preparing for a trip to the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior about 4 hours away so I knew something had to be done and soon. Our local boat dealer came out and took one of the springs off to get good measurements and had the right ones the next day and we made our trip as planned. The spring leaves appear to be rivited together in the middle which requires a hole to be drilled through all of them and thats where they broke on both sides. We replaced the springs for the front axle also. The moral is, especially on older boats, check those trailer springs once in a while, it could save you a very bad day at the side of the road or worse. Jack Bristow S/V Discovery

 

[Joyce & Bob]

Interesting Point !

Our trailer is relatively new (2002 model) and already I can see the springs beginning to rust up. I wonder if the mechanic who sold/installed your new springs gave you any suggested maintenance on the springs to keep them in good shape? Thanks!

 

[Ray Bowles]

Jack, My question is did the breakage happen

while you owned the boat and trailer or did someone else have the boat before. To break a leaf spring requires one of these things. 1. The spring pack becomes loose, elongates the centerbolt and then fails, or 2. The trailer was overloaded (like with the ballast tank filled)and then suffered a strong tire impact, or 3. Very badly balanced, or out of round, tires can set up a harmonic rythm that can finely crack a spring. A large pothole hit at speed, a curb and many more similar hazards could do this. Once any spring in the pack breaks it will help break more springs.Leaf springs simply don't break without a very good reason or very bad treatment.J&B, rust is a fact of life with leaf springs. The type of steel used will rust and it will not hurt, or lead to spring failure. These springs have been used for 200 years or more.The only item of concern is to find out whether the cause was prior to your ownership or on your shift. You would know of any condition that caused this problem. I'm glad you spotted this before it caused another accident.RayS/V Speedy

 

[Ray Bowles]

Jack, My question is did the breakage happen

while you owned the boat and trailer or did someone elso have the boat before. To break a leaf spring requires one of two things. 1. The spring pack becomes loose, elongates the centerbolt and then fails, or 2. The trailer was overloaded (like with the ballast tank filled)and then suffered a very strong impact. A large pothole hit at speed, a curb and many more similar hazards.Leaf springs simply don't break without a very good reason or very bad treatment.J&B, rust is a fact of life with leaf springs. The type of steel used will rust and it will not lead to spring failure. These springs have been used of 200 years or more.The only item of concern is to find out whether the cause was prior to your ownership or on your shift. You would know of any condition that caused this problem. I'm glad you spotted this before it caused another accident.RayS/V Speedy

 

[Jack Bristow]

Rough roads

We have had the boat and trailer since she was a year old. So I expect it happened on our shift. Ive put on new tires and had them balanced so I doubt that as a cause. We have trailed an estimated 8000 miles and during that time have hit some really rough roads especially in construction areas. One it was bad enough to bounce the bow out of the bow stop on the trailer. I have since added a hold down strap running from the bow eye straight down to the trailer. As far as balance, there is a lot of weight on the hitch as it scrunches down my suburban a little. We have not trailed with the ballast tank anything but empty.  I just wanted to warn everyone that this problem can and does occur. Jack Bristow